Three Crowns

The Three Crowns seems to come and go at whim. We first visited back in 2013, when the pub was voted second best in Shoreditch (behind the Old Fountain, naturally). Then it closed and became an outpost of meatmeisters Hill and Szrok. Now it's back as a pub again under the auspices of City Pub Co, and looking very good too.

The exterior is inviting, with two-tone green tiling beneath a sturdy Victorian brick building. The pub caters for a mix of suits and Shoreditch creative types, with students from the many nearby halls making up the count.

Inside, the long, thin rooms get increasingly cosy as you retreat toward the rear. Although the pub is well geared up for dining (a mostly British menu with some real treats), it feels a lot more pubby than its previous two incarnations. You can sit with a pint anywhere and not feel like you should be ordering a platter.

Speaking of pints, the choice has also improved from the 3 Crowns of old. Local ales from the likes of Beavertown, Essex Street and Crate are now the order of the day, and most stuff's on keg. Oh, and there's a dartboard too. All good stuff.